2020 has been a wild, chaotic year, and the fact that we’re only halfway through is….daunting. Despite everything going on, it’s been a great year for bibliophiles, and I’m super excited to share my thoughts on the books I’ve read so far. Here’s the Mid-Year Book Freakout Tag for 2020, a tag I’ve seen on Bookstagram, Booktube and book blogs, and I’m excited to participate for the first time!
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2020
I’m honestly surprising myself by choosing Educated by Tara Westover, as I hardly ever read nonfiction. However, it really impacted me and it’s been a while since I’ve felt that drawn into a story. As for Love And Other Words, I’ve read almost all of Christina Lauren’s books and this one hit me right in the feels. I loved the writing style & the authentic characters.
2. Best sequel you’ve read so far in 2020: Undercover Bromance
I rarely read sequels so I think Undercover Bromance is the only one I’ve read this year. If you’re into flirty romances with sarcastic humor, check out The Bromance Book Club series (soon to be a movie!).
3. New release you haven’t read yet but want to
I have Bookstagram FOMO because of this one! I love the cover and I have seen this everyyywhere on Bookstagram.
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
I’m a huge sucker for Backman’s work. His writing is beautiful and the characters are all so quirky and lovable, and Anxious People seems to fit the bill with its synopsis. Also, two of the characters are described as Ikea addicts, so as someone who can relate a little too hard to that…count me in.
5. Biggest Disappointment
I so wanted to love this one because I’ve seen endless good reviews, but I really didn’t enjoy No Exit. Although it was marketed as a thriller, it read more like a slasher book that had an exasperating amount of twists and turns.
6. Biggest surprise
Educated takes the list again because I really did not expect to fall in love with Tara Westover’s unbelievable story. I definitely put off reading this book because I’m stubborn and was on a fiction train, but the fact that everyone in my life (my brother, my best friend, my coworkers…even people who aren’t avid readers) was telling me to read this book was what finally made me do it. And I freakin’ loved it.
7. Favorite new author
Considering I read 4 Peter Swanson books for the first time this year, he has to be my favorite new author. His thrillers focus on the fact that normal people are murderers and although that thought chills me to my core, it makes for seriously good writing. My favorites were The Kind Worth Killing and Eight Perfect Murders.
8. Newest fictional crush
I never really develop book crushes, but if I had to choose it’d be Dean Tenney from Evvie Drake Starts Over. He’s an athlete with a vulnerable side, and he seems to really understand Evvie. I loved that he was perfect for her.
9. Newest favorite character
This one goes to basically every character in Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies. Mostly to Madeline Mackenzie, who Reese Witherspoon played perfectly in the HBO adaptation. Madeline is iconically sassy and feminine, and when she puts her mind to something, she does it. I loved this book and her character.
10. Book that made you cry
Again, I’m surprising myself with another nonfiction book here. Lori Gottlieb’s memoir provides such impressive insight to both therapy and the human experience. It was one of those absurd books that made me laugh and cry (cliche but true) and want to yell at every single one of the characters.
11. Book that made you happy
I may be a little biased because I literally just finished The Falling in Love Montage a few hours ago, but I really loved this coming-of-age YA novel. It was sarcastic in all the right places (not ashamed to say I LOL’d and reread some passages because they were super witty) and had a good amount of character growth. It’s also an #OwnVoices book!
12. Most beautiful book you’ve bought so far this year (or received)
This question had me scouring my shelves and sent me into a little book spiral, BUT I think the winner has to go to this edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I actually grabbed this one off the side of the street because someone was giving away free books, and how could I say no to this cover?!
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?
First of all, I feel attacked because my TBR is overwhelming enough already. Dozens of books came to mind, but I’m choosing a few that I have on my shelves and some that have been recommended to me countless times.
- The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Amy Byler
- Britt-Marie by Fredrik Backman
- Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
- Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore
- Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
- Normal People by Sally Rooney
- Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Let me know in the comments how your reading has been in 2020! I’d love to hear about any new favorites or must-reads.
